COOKING oil has been given the ultimate 'bling' makover - with gold leaf added.

One of the most sought after Christmas foodie experience is now available from Welsh rapeseed oil producer, Blodyn Aur.

Launched at a local jewellery store in Caernarfon, Blodyn Aur’s gold leaf limited edition is the first of its kind in the world.

“The idea came from a conversation we had with our Twitter followers,” explained Llyr Jones of Blodyn Aur, Corwen.

“At the time we were promoting the idea of replacing olive oil with rapeseed oil as part of everyday diet, and exploring new ideas to add value.

"Someone, quite light-heartedly, came up with the idea of combining Blodyn Aur’s natural golden vibrancy with gold leaf, but the more we thought about it the more it appealed to us.”

Having sourced the gold leaf from fellow Welsh company Gold Leaf Supplies, Bridgend, the company conducted a series of trials before launching successfully on December 20.

“The leaf we’ve used is 22ct gold and totally edible. It must be the ultimate in bling food and due to a limited edition run of only 50 bottles, we have already nearly sold out before they hit the shelves.”

Iona Hughes, owner of jewellery retail outlet Gemwaith in Caernarfon, who hosted the launch said: “We definitely haven’t had this type of request before, but it made sense to us to work with a local company.”

“Just like our jewellery, the gold leaf oil is a premium product and wonderful as a gift for an avid foodie this Christmas. You won’t get this anywhere else in the world, and yes I’ve agreed to stock it for a limited period at my store.”

The 500ml bottles are expected to retail for between £10 and £12, and any long-term plans to make it a permanent part of the Blodyn Aur range will depend on its success.

“Sales of the cold-pressed rapeseed oil is growing steadily year on year as people realise its health benefits and cooking versatility,” explained Llyr. “As any business, we do have to keep thinking of ways to refresh the range, and the gold leaf was truly a light bulb moment thanks to the creativity power offered by our Twitter followers.”